Machine for forming round cotton-bales.



No. 809,283. PATENTED JAN. 9, 1906. c. M. OAGLE. MACHINE FOR FORMINGROUND COTTON BALES.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN. 31. 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1. "w

Inventor.

Witnesses Httomegs No. 809,283. PATENTED JAN. 9, 1906.

-- 0. M. OAGLE.

MACHINE POR'PORMING ROUND COTTON BALES APPLICATION FILED JAN. 31, 1905.

3SHEETS-SHEET Z.

648%? Cagle,

Witnesses Inventor,

PATBNTED JAN. 9, 1906.

s SHEETSSHEET s.

0. M. GAGLB.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 31, 1905.

MACHINE FOR FORMING ROUND COTTON BALES.

Q56 Q? s Inventor, W

Httomegs UNITED STATES CARTER M. (JAGLE, OF BECKVILLE, TEXAS.

MACHINE FOR FORMING ROUND COTTON-BALES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 9, 1906.

Application filed January 31, 1905. Serial No. 243,537.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known thatl, CARTER M. CAeLE, acitizen of the United States,residing at Beokville.

in the county of Panola and State of Texas, have invented a new anduseful Machine for Forming Round Cotton-Bales, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to baling-presses, and more particularly topresses of that type employed in the production of cylindricalcottonbalcs.

The principal object of the invention is to providea machine of the mostsimple construction in which the cotton is received from the condenseror other source of supply and is first formed into a bat and thencegradually rolled until it forms a bale of any predetermined diameter, afurther object in this connection being to provide means whereby whenthe bale has reached the desired size it will be automaticallydischarged from the balingchamber.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel formofbale-discharging means which may be quickly adjusted to provide for theautomatic discharge of the bales when they have assumed the diameterrequired by such adjustment.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a bale-rollingmachine in which provision is made for the automatic feeding ofbale-cores to the baling-chamber immediately after the discharge of acomplete bale.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a roundbale-forming machine in which the operation of the parts will becontinuous, it being unnecessary to stop the feeding of the cotton orthe feeding of the bat between the bale-forming intervals.

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafterappear, the invention consists in certain novel features of.construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described,illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed outin the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in theform, proportions, size, and minor details of the structure may be madewithout departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantagesof the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 1s aside elevation of abale-forming machine constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig.2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an endelevation of the machine. Fig. 4: is a detail perspective view of one ofthe bale-cores.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate correspondingparts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The various working parts of the apparatus are supported on asubstantial frame 10, which may be formed of either wooden beams orofstructural iron.

At the upper portion of the frame is an inolined table 11. whichreceives the loose cotton or similar material to be baled. The lowerportion of this table is provided with transversely-disposed slots,through which extend portions of the peripheries of compressionrollers12, the opposite ends of which are in the form of shafts or 'gudgeons13, that extend through suitable bearings formed in the frame and areprovided at one or both sides with small gears 14:. The gears areconnected in a practically continuous train by agear 15 to a maindriving-gear l6, and the lowermost of the gears 14 intermeshes with atransmission-gear 17, that is mounted on suitable bearings in a strapfulcrumed on the shaft or gudgeon of the lowermost roller.

Immediately above the rollers 12 are upper compression-rollers 20, theend shafts 0r gudgeons of which extend through suitable bearings carriedby the frame. The upper halves of the bearing-boxes are held down bysprings 21, and the stress of the springs may be adjusted by screws 22.The shafts or gudgeons of the upper rollers are provided with gears 24,arranged in a continuous train and so disposed that they may freely riseand fall in accordance with the thickness of the bat being formed. Thistrain of gears is in mesh with the end gear 17 of the lower train.

The frame is provided with bearings for the support of the shafts ofthree transverselyextending rollers 25, 27, and a lower roller 28, andover all of these rollers extends a belt 29, formed of leather, canvas,or other suitable material. The two upper rollers constitute a portionof the bale-forming means, while the shaft of the lower roller isprovided with a belt-pulley 30 or a suitable gear, to which power may betransmitted in any desired man- The bearings of the rollers 28 areyieldable, the caps of the bearings being depressed by adjustablesprings 31, that will allow some slight upward movement of the roller topermit variations in the diameter of the bale during the compressingoperation.

In the opposite sides of the frame are guideways 34 for the reception ofthe side bars of a slidable frame 35, that is provided withtransversely-disposed brace-bars 36 and 37. At the forward end of theframe 35 are bearings for a shaft 38, carrying a compressionroller 39 ofcomparatively large diameter and serving to coact with the rollers 25 27and operating to form a bale. One or both ends of the shaft 38 isprovided with sprocket-wheel 40, connected by a link belt 41 to asprocketwheel 42, mounted on a shaft 43, held in suitable bearings inthe frame. The shaft 43 is further provided with a gear 44, connected bya link belt with a gear 45 on the shaft of the lower roller 28.

At one end of the frame are bearings for the support of atransversely-extending windingroller 48, around which are wound the endsof a pair of cables or chains 49, said end portions being rigidlysecured to the roller. The opposite ends of said cables or chains areconnected to the sides of the frame 35. Wrapped around the center of theroller 48 and secured thereto is one end of a cord or chain 50, carryinga heavy weight or spring, and said weight may be adjusted in accordancewith the extent to which the cotton or other material is to becompressed, it being merely necessary to add or remove portions of theweight. At this end of the machine is afiuid-pressure cylinder 55, inwhich is arranged a suitable piston connected by a rod 56 to a cross-bar57, and one end of the cross-bar has an opening 58 for the passage ofthe weighted cable 50, the walls of the opening being arranged at suchan angle that the crossbar is held in position to bite into the cable orcord, this occurring at the end of each compression operation in orderthat the roller 39 may be relieved of the weight and the baling-chamberopened to permit the discharge of the bale. To the opposite end of thecross-bar 57 is connected a hook 59, the lower end of which passes undera cross-bar 60. The cross-bar 60 is connected at its opposite ends totwo angular frames 61, pivoted at 62 to the main frame and connected attheir upper ends by pivot-bolts 63 to bars 64, said bars 64 beingconnected to the opposite ends of the shaft 38, the connections beingsuch that when steam, air, or other fluid under pressure is admittedbelow the piston the cross-bar 57 will be raised, the weight elevated,and the frame 35 and compressing-roller moved outward from contact withthe finished bale.

The bales are wound on cores or spools 70, having enlarged end flanges71 provided with projecting end disks 72. These cores or spools areplaced in a hopper or chute 7 3, and normally the end disk 72 of thelowermost core rests on spring-fingers 75, arranged at the lower ends ofa pair of arms 76.

The arms 76 are pivotall y connected at their upper ends to the upperends of levers 77, that are pivoted at 78 to the frame, and the lowerends of said levers extend between the two cross-bars 36 and 37 of theslidable frame 35. To the rear of the levers are arrangedcushioning-springs 79, which form back-stops for limiting the rearwardmovement of said levers.

In the inner faces of the frame members are arranged inclined slots orgrooves 80 of a width sufficient to receive the end disks 72 of thecores, and when the arms 76 are forced downward the lowermost core isforced down into the grooves 80 and finally rests on the lower wall ofthe guideway 34 at a point between the belt 29 and the maincompressionroller 39, or, in other words, is placed in thebaling-chamber. The inner walls ofthe frame are provided with grooves81, extending from the lower walls of the guideways 34 and of a widthsufficient to receive the disk 72, and in discharging the disks passthrough the grooves 81 and fall onto inclined bars 82, down which theyroll, carrying the compressed bale to other portions of the machine,where the bale is wrapped and tied.

The cylinder 55 herein referred to is connected by a pipe 84 to asuitable source of pressure-supply, and in said pipe is a valve 85, thatis connected by a link 86 to one end of a lever 87, that is pivoted at apoint intermediate of its length to the frame. The opposite end of thelever 87 is connected to a rod 88, that in turn is connected to thelower end of a small lever 89, pivoted at a point intermediate of itslength to the frame. The upper end of the lever 89 is connected to anarm 90, that is disposed in the path of movement of a lug or pin 91,projecting from one side of the frame 35, and the lug serves to engagethis arm during the outward movement of the frame in order to transmitmovement to the valve. The rod 88 is provided with a shoulder 92, thatnormally rests in engagement with a stop 93, projecting from the frame,

and to the rod is secured one end of a spring 94, the opposite end ofwhich is carried by a pin 95. The function of the spring is to hold theshoulder in engagement with the stop 93, and in this position of theparts the valve is held closed.

The rod 88 is slotted for the passage of a bolt 96, carrying a cam 97,which may be adjusted to any desired point in the length of the rod. Theframe 35 carries a finger 98 for engagement with the cam as the frameand compression-roller move outward, and when this occurs the rod 88 ismoved downward until the shoulder 92 is free from the stop 93, whereuponthe spring 94 pulls the rod to the left and opens the valve 85.

' machine.

soasa In the operation of the machine a core or spool is first placed inthe baling-chamber,

and the machine is then started. The loose cotton passing down the table11 is compressed between the three sets of rollers 12 20, and by properadjustment of the screws 22 the pressure at first may be slight andafterward increased, so that the bat will be tightly compressed when itissues fromthe final rollers. -The bat then passes between thecompression-roller 39 and the core, and as the opposite side of thespool or core is engaged by the belt 29 it will be rotated in suchmanner as to gradually wind the bat thereon. During the windingoperation the bat will be compressed into the form of a bale, owing tothe weight 51, and the pressure of the belt 29 Will gradually alter asthe diameter of the bale increases. In all cases, however, the pressurewill be uniform and regular, and the bale in process of formation willact as a friction-roller for transmitting movement from the belt to theroller 39, and this is utilized in the driving of other portions of themachine, as hereinafter described.

As the bale nears completion the frame 35 in moving outward will forcethe finger 98 into contact with the. cams 97, and in moving over the camthe rod 88 will be depressed until the shoulder 92 is free from the stop93. The spring 9 pulls on the rod 88, and the movement is transmitted tolever 87 and link 86 to the valve. When the valve is opened, air, steam,or other fluid under pressure enters the cylinder and elevates thepiston therein. This movement is transmitted, through the cross-bar 57to the hook 59, raising the outer portion of the frame 61, and as thelatter swings on'its pivot 62 the movement is transmitted to the bars 64and from thence to the frame 35, causing the latter to carry thecompression-roller 39 outward from the bale at a comparatively rapidrate of speed. The pull on the hook-supporting end of the crossbar 57causes the inner end of the latter to tilt upward, and the inclinedwalls of the opening 58 then grip the cable 50 and a portion of thepressure is utilized in raising the weight. IVhen the belt 29 isrelieved from the pressure of the beltand the roller 39, the springs 31tend to force the roller downward, and thus strengthen the forward sideof the belt. This movement ejects the bale, and the disks 72 of thespool roll under the guideways 34 until the grooves 81 are reached, thebale then passing down on the skids or bars 82 to the wrapping and tyingportions of the As the frame 35 moves to the rear the-bar 37 will engagethe lower ends of the lever 7 7 and this movement is transmitted to thearm 7 6, causing the latter to feed another spool into thebaling-chamber, so that the operation may be continued; Further movementof the frame 35 causes lug 91 to engage the bar 90, whereupon movementis transmitted through the lever 89, rod 88, lever 87,

and link. 86 to the valve, closing the pressuresupply port and openingthe cylinder to an exhaust-pipe 100, so that the frame andcompression-roller are free to move forward to operative position, andthe operation of forming a fresh bale may be immediately commencedwithout stopping the feeding of the cotton or the formation of the bat.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is" 1. In abale-forming machine,a belt, atransfer-roller serving as a bale-formingmeans, and means for imparting movement to the belt, the bale beingformed serving as a friction member for transmitting movement from thebelt to the roller.

2. In a baling-press, a compression means, and means under the controlof the bale being formed for automatically moving the compression meansto inoperative position when said bale has reached a predetermined size.

3. In a baling-press, a compression-roller, and means for automaticallymoving the same to inoperative position when the bale has reached apredetermined size.

4. In a baling-press, a compression-roller, means for automaticallymoving the roller to inoperative position, and means for adjusting thetime of operation in accordance with the diameter of the bale to beformed.

5. In a baling-press, a compression-roller, amovable frame supportingthe roller, means for moving the roller out of contact with the bale,and mechanism operable by the movement of the frame for controlling theoperation of the roller-moving means.

6. The combination in a baling-press, of a compression-roller,a framecarrying the same, frame-engaging means for adjusting the roller toinoperative position, and an adjustable mechanism operable by the framefor controlling the operation of said frame-engaging means.

7. The combination in a baling-press, of a compressionroller,a framecarrying the same, a fluid-pressure-actuated mechanism for moving theroller to inoperative position, and means controlled by said frame forgoverning the supply of fluid under pressure to said mechanism.

8. The combination in a baling-press, of a compression-roller, a movableframe carrying said roller,a fluid-pressure-operated means for engagingsaid frame, and adjusting the rollers to inoperative position, anormally closed valve for governing the flow of fluid under pressure tosaid mechanism, and means operable by the frame for opening said valve.

9. The combination in a balingpress, of a compression-roller, a slidableframe for said roller, a fluid-pressure-operated mechanism for movingthe roller to inoperative position,

a valve for controlling the flow of fluid under pressure to suchmechanism, and valve-operating rods disposed in the path of movement ofsaid frame.

10. The combination in a baling-press, of a compression-roller, aslidable frame carrying said compression-roller, afluid-pressure-operated mechanism for moving the roller to inoperativeposition, a valve controlling the flow of fluid to said mechanism, avalve-operating rod having a locking-shoulder, a fixed stop for engagingthe shoulder, a valve-opening spring engaging the rod, and adjustablemeans operable on movement of the frame for moving said shoulder fromengagement with the stop.

11. The combination in a baling-press, of a compression-roller, amovable frame carrying said roller, a fluid pressure operated mechanismfor moving said roller to inoperative position, a valve for controllingthe flow of fluid under pressure to said mechanism, a valve-operatingrod having a locl ing-shoulder, a fixed stop with which said shoulderengages, a spring engaging the rod and serving when the latter isreleased to move the valve to open position, an adjustable cam carriedby the rod, and a lug or finger carried by the frame and adapted toengage said cam.

12. The combination in a baling-press, of a compression-roller, amovable frame carrying said roller, a fluid-pressure-operated meansengaging said frame, a normally closed valve controlling the flow offluid to and from said means, and valve-operating means carried by theframe.

13. The combination with a compressionroller, of a movable framecarrying said roller. a fluid-pressure-operated means engaging saidframe, a valve for controlling the flow of fluid under pressure to andfrom said means, a valve-operating device, and means carried by theframe for engaging said device and first opening and then closing saidvalve.

14:. The combination in a baling-press, of a compression device, andmeans for automatically moving the same into and out of operativeposition.

15. The combination in a baling-press, of a compression means, means forautomatically moving the same to inoperative position at the completionof each bale-forming operation, and mechanism for restoring thecompression means to operative position after the discharge of afinished bale.

16. The combination in a baling-machine, of a compression-roller, aslidable frame carrying said roller, a weight connected to the frame andtending to hold the roller in engagement with the bale, a fluid-pressurecylinder, a piston in said cylinder, links forming aconnection betweenthe piston and theframe, and means connecting the piston to the link toadjust the roller to inoperative position.

17. The combination in abaling-machine, of a compression-roller, a framecarrying the same, a Winding-drum, cables or chains connecting the frameto the drum, a weighted cable or chain secured to said frame, a rockingframe connected to the roller-carrying frame, a fluid-pressure cylinder,a piston arranged therein and connected to the rocking frame, a valvefor controlling the flow of fluid under pressure to and from thecylinder, a rod connected to the valve and provided with a shoulder, astop with which said shoulder engages, a spring connected to the rod, acam on said rod, a lug or finger arranged on the movable frame andserving to engage said cam, an arm connected to the valve-rod, and aprojecting lug carried by the frame and adapted to engage said arm asthe roller-carrying frame nears the limit of its rearward movement.

18. The combination in a baling-press, of compression members, and meansfor automatically feeding cores or spools between said compressionmembers.

19. The combination in a baling-machine having a baling-chamber, of apair of compression members, means for automatically feeding empty coresor spools to the compression-chamber, and means for automaticallydischarging completed bales from said chamber.

20. In a baling-machine, the combination with compression members, of aframe having grooves leading between said compression members, and meansfor feeding cores or spools along said grooves.

21. The combination in a baling-machine, of grooved frames, means forfeeding cores or spools along said grooves, and a compression memberserving at the completion of'each baling operation to feed the filledcore or spool to discharge position .in said grooves.

22. The combination in a baling-maehine, of a baling-chamber,compression members, a core or spool reservoir, and means for feedingsingle spools therefrom to the balingchamber.

23. The combination in a baling-press, of compression members forming abaling-chamher, a core or spool reservoir, and means under the controlof one of said compression members for automatically feeding singlecores or spools from the reservoir to the baling-chamber.

24:. The combination with a frame, of a compression-roller, a slidablecarrier therefor, a core-feeding frame, and an arm secured to said frameand arranged in the path of movement of the carrier.

25. The combination in a baling-machine, of compression members forminga baling-chamher, a movable frame carrying one of said compressionmembers, a core or spool reservoir, a rocking frame having one end inthe path of movement of the movable frame, and yieldable fingers carriedby the rocking frame and serving to engage successive cores as they arefed to the baling-chamber.

IIO

form of a cylindrical bale, means for automatically feeding fresh coresto the balingchamber, and means for automatically dischargingfilleclcores from said chamber.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own 1 have hereto affixedmy signature 1n IO the presence of two Witnesses.

CARTER M. OAGLE.

Witnesses:

E. T. CRAWFORD; B. H. NEIL.

